This list is based on overall performance in showcase camp games only and not in particular ranking or order. Mid Major Hoops Report proudly presents to you the “Elite 26” super showcase performers regardless of class and/or position.

A LEADER, LEADS BY EXAMPLE: A leader must be a positive role model at all times. Every word spoken has to be a positive word. Every act he does must be a positive act. A leader can never be negative. He must be a shining example of what it takes to be great.

A LEADER BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS: A leader must be the type of person that others want to be like. He has to inspire his teammates to be their very best.

A LEADER IS AN EXTENSION OF THE COACH: Most players are well behaved when the coach is around. However, when the coach is not around, negative things can occur. Any type of negative talk, about the team or another player, is detrimental to the team. A leader does not try to cut corners in any way. He knows what the team and school rules are and does not break them himself, or allow others to break them.

A LEADER IS A HARD WORKER: A leader must enjoy serving others. He must want to do the things that are necessary for a team to have success. A leader is always trying to think of ways he can help improve the team.

A LEADER PUTS THE TEAM FIRST: It is easy to come up with excuses why we can’t get a task done. I hear those excuses all the time. If you want to do something, you can almost always do it. If you don’t want to do something, you can almost always find an excuse so that you don’t have to do it. I want people who I can count on to be there. I want people who are committed to basketball all year – not just during the season.

A LEADER TRULY WANTS TO BE A SERVANT: You can’t fake it, you either want to be a positive servant to your team, or you don’t. The leaders of this team do not have to be the best players. In fact, I think it is neat when someone who isn’t a great player steps up and takes on a leadership role. Your job as a member of this team is to find some way to make a positive contribution to the team. For some that contribution may be providing leadership.

Leading by Helping Others:

If you think it ever was about you as a leader, you are wrong. Leadership is about others. Great leaders love and care about others more than themselves.

Here are four tips to help you love and care about those you lead. However, let me preface these tips by saying that the most important thing you need to do is not fake caring. Either you really love those you lead or you don’t. If don’t feel it, don’t fake it. Faking it will erode your trust as a leader very quickly. People know when leaders are genuine and when they are not.

1. Serve. There is a positive correlation between serving others and love. The more you serve others, the more you will care for and love them. The more you care and love, the greater desire you will have to serve. It can be as easy as sending a heartfelt card during a tender time in an employee’s life, or doing something nice for their family. There are many opportunities to serve those we lead, we just need to be aware and look for them.

2. Be empathetic. See those you lead as people with needs just like you. I was talking to a colleague of mine the other day who has an employee with a very sick father who lives clear across the country. She can’t afford an airline ticket to see him. This kind and generous leader is going to buy her a ticket so she can see her father, and he is doing it anonymously. He has truly seen those he leads as people just like him that he can reach out and serve.

3. See the positive. Everybody has good in them. The more you think and speak positively of others the more you will care. If you are always seeing the negative; it is difficult to care because those feelings are in direct conflict with caring. Some of you might be saying, “well, that is fine and dandy, but there is negative, and I have to address that too.” And I agree. But look for the positive first and then address the negative because you love that person, not because you are upset or angry.

4. Express it. Now, you don’t need to say “I love you.” That could be construed as something different than what you are trying convey. But telling those you lead that you really do care about them; that you appreciate them, and feeling it as you say it, will increase your love for them. There is a real connection that occurs when you express how you feel genuinely to others.

One of the top 2017 prospects in the Country out of the State of Nevada, Charles O’Bannon Jr. of Bishop Gorman High School (NV) has been showing out grabbing major attention from college recruiters and media outlets. Mid Major Hoops Report has invited him to our “Players Corner” where we at Mid Major Hoops Report are proud to highlight him and give us insight into his recruitment at this time….

What schools have you visited? Do you have any visits planned for the future?

CB: I have visited UCLA, Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and Wake Forest but, I would also like to visit the ones that i listed above.

Would you prefer to play college basketball close to home, or is that not a factor for you?

CB: Thats not a factor for me.

How hard do you work on your game? How much time do you put in?

CB: I put in tons of work in the gym. Between 3- 6 hours a day.

How old were you when you first picked up a basketball?

CB: About 5 years old.

What things are really important to you when it comes to choosing where to play college basketball?

CB: The coaching staff and the style of play that the team’s offense is set up and the environment.

Who are some of the mentors who helped you get to where you are right now?

CB: My mother.

What’s your favorite moment as a basketball player so far?

CB: Winning the Fab 48 last year because we came back from being down by 26 points and came back to win the championship.

What are your short term goals as a basketball player?

CB: To win another state championship.

What are your long term goals?

CB: To go to a high-major college and onto the pros.

Do you have a Facebook or Twitter that you’d like to share?

CB: Twitter @mrobannon5

What style of play do you prefer?

CB: I prefer a Kevin Durant type of play.

Who’s a player in college basketball or the NBA that you really respect?

CB: Kobe Bryant because he has made it clear that no one in the world can guard him and that he will score on anyone. Also people can’t be compared to him after what he has done in the past 17 years of his NBA career.

Do you prefer Nike, adidas, or Under Armour?

CB: Nike

Special Thank You to the O’Bannon Family for allowing MMHR to conduct this Q&A with their son. Please keep in touch with any up to date recruiting news.

One of the top 2015 prospects in the Country out of the State of California, Stephen Thompson Jr of Bishop Montgomery High School (CA) has been showing out grabbing major attention from college recruiters and media outlets. Mid Major Hoops Report has invited him to our “Players Corner” where we at Mid Major Hoops Report are proud to highlight him and allow him to give us insight into his recruitment at this time….

Stephen Thompson Jr. has a smooth shooting stroke that extends out to 22-feet. His shot is tight off the catch and he is getting better creating off the dribble. Despite his reputation as a shooter, the most impressive aspect of his game is his savvy. – ESPN.COM

One of the top up and coming 2016 prospects in California, Donovan Mitchell of Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA) has been showing out grabbing attention from college recruiters and media outlets. Mid Major Hoops Report has invited him to our “Players Corner” where we at Mid Major Hoops Report are proud to highlight him and allow him to give us insight into his recruitment at this time….

Mitchell is a long-armed face-up 4-man who is just scratching the surface of his potential. He has soft hands and a solid feel for the game as well. He can step out and nail the elbow jump shot or face-up his defender and take him off the drive – ESPN.com

What is your official height and weight?

DM: 6’8 195 pounds

What position do you see yourself playing in college?

DM:SG and SF

What AAU team are you playing with this year?

DM: Chaos

Describe your game for coaches and fans who haven’t seen you play yet.

DM: very good at finding people on the break. Slashing and getting to the rim and finishing above people.

What makes you stand out the most from other players you compete against?

DM:I am pretty big for my position and at 6’8 I can play any position on the floor. My ball handling is very good and my sight on the floor is very good also.

What part of your game do you feel like you’ve improved on the most in the last year?

One of the top up and coming 2015 prospects in the country, La’Vette Parker of Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, CA) has been showing out grabbing major attention from college recruiters and media outlets. Mid Major Hoops Report has invited him to our “Players Corner” where we at Mid Major Hoops Report are proud to highlight him and allow him to give us insight into his recruitment at this time….

MidMajorHoopsReport travelled out to the Sacramento area and came way impressed with three Bay Area players in the class of 2018.

Jack Wilson is a 6’5″ post who reminds us of a young Raef LaFrentz. He has a right and left hand hook that is very effective. His footwork is good for a young post player. As far as rebounding, Wilson does a good job of working for position and going after the ball on the offensive and defensive end. Defensively, he uses his height to alter and block a tremendous amount of shots. In a game against Cal Supreme he had 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 block shots.

Elijah Hardy is a 5’10” combo guard. He has a great handle. Hardy uses his speed to create plays for himself and his teammates. With his half-court and transition vision, assists pile up like Legos for young Hardy. Considering this was MMHR’s second time seeing him play(First time was at the Pangos Jr. All-American Camp), Hardy’s feel for the game leaves one very impressed. In a game against Cal Supreme he had 10 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds.

Another player that MMHR saw at the Pangos Jr. All-American Camp earlier this year and later at the Sacramento Live event was 5’10” combo guard Naseem Gaskin. He is an excellent ball handler. This allows him create plays for himself and his teammates. With his feel for the game and scoring ability at all three levels(paint, mid range, and 3 ball), Gaskin was able to will his team to a victory over Cal Supreme by taking over the game by himself in the last 4-5 minutes of the game. He ended up with 22 points and 4 steals.

One of the top 2016 prospects in the country, Carlos Johnson of Shadow Mountain High School (Phoenix, AZ) has been showing out grabbing major attention from college recruiters and media outlets. Mid Major Hoops Report has invited him to our “Players Corner” where we at Mid Major Hoops Report are proud to highlight him and allow him to give us insight into his recruitment at this time….

One of the top 2015 prospects in the country, Bennie Boatwright of Village Christian High School (Mission Hills, CA) has been showing out grabbing major attention from college recruiters and media outlets. Mid Major Hoops Report has invited him to our “Players Corner” where we at Mid Major Hoops Report are proud to highlight him and allow him to give us insight into his recruitment at this time….

MidMajorHoopsReport (@MMhoopsreport)

– Bennie Boatwright is a HM wing forward with nice shooting touch, he can run the floor well and bangs with the best of them, his face up game is getting better each time out.

What is your Height, Weight, and Position you play?BB: Height 6’9 maybe 6’10, weight 215, and position SF

How is your season coming along, so far? Is it living upto expectations? BB: My season this year I think was great because I got better as a player and person. My team and I put in a lo if hard work and it was great to win a C.I.F. championship with my teammates.

Up to this point in your season, who has been your team’s toughest matchup? BB: My teams toughest matchup was versus Stanley Johnson and his Mater Dei team. He wasn’t only our toughest he was everyone else’s who played against him.

Which college programs have been to your games and/or practices so far this season? BB: I have been blessed enough to have the whole PAC 12, Texas, Kansas, uconn, utep, and many other prestigious school attend.

Which colleges are recruiting you the hardest right now? Any scholarship offers at this point? BB: yes, I have some big offers right now. UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, UConn, USC, and CAL.

What are you looking for in a College Program?

BB: I am looking for a family atmosphere, and a place where I can develop as a player and as a person. When I am comfortable I play my best.

Do you have any college visits planned? BB: Right now, my dad and I are still planning our visits and would like to take them soon.

What are your strong points in your game right now? And what weaknesses, do you have that you are working on to become a strength? BB: I need to work on mutant aspect of my game so I can be as versatile as possible. I’m working on getting stronger and lower. As well as ball handling.

What AAU team will you be playing with this summer? BB: Gamepoint Elite, We are looking forward to having a great summer!

How many days a week are you working on your game outside of normal team practices? BB: I try to work on my game as much as possible. I do a plyo workout at 6 every morning, after school I have weights at 3, later in the evening I go to the gym and work on development drills on the court. I do speed work on the track every other day.

Do you have a twitter and if so, what is it? BB: Yes, @BennieBuckets_

Last question, Who has had the biggest impact on your life when it comes to basketball, life, and school? BB: My dad has had the biggest impact on all aspects of my life. He’s my biggest fan, and worst critique. We bump head sometimes but I know he wants me to succeed. We are in this together and no one can separate our bond that we’ve made through all the good and tough times.

BB: Thank you so much for taking the time for interview I really appreciate. I do not take it for granted.

Special Thank you to the Boatwright family for allowing us at MMHR to make this interview possible. Please keep us up to date with any recruiting updates in the future. God Bless!